Welcome to the Bay Area Chapter of SID
The Society for Information Display
March Seminar
From Diffractive Lightfield Backlights to Switchable LC Cells: Practical Paths to Scalable Immersive 3D
March 19 2026
BA-SID Seminar Details
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm PDT
Presentation Abstract
Immersive 3D is experiencing a renaissance, highlighted by the recent launch of mass-market products from Samsung, Acer, ZTE, Lenovo, and others. In this talk, I will review the underlying display architectures that have enabled this transition, comparing Leia’s earlier diffractive lightfield backlight (DLB) approach with our current front-face switchable LC cell technology. I will discuss key trade-offs in optical efficiency, form factor, cost, color fidelity, and temporal modulation, as well as the growing importance of software—particularly calibration, lens defect compensation, and predictive eye tracking. The presentation will share practical insights gained from bringing immersive 3D systems from research into large-scale production.
David Fattal – Co-Founder and CTO of Leia Inc.
David Fattal is Co-Founder and CTO of Leia Inc., where he leads the development of immersive 3D display technology for personal devices, spanning optical hardware, calibration, and real-time software. At Leia, he has driven the transition from early lightfield-based architectures to today’s switchable LC cell approach, and has overseen the launch of commercial immersive 3D products with partners including Samsung, Acer, and ZTE. He also spearheaded the creation of Immersity AI, Leia’s 2D-to-3D conversion platform, now used by millions of users worldwide.
Prior to founding Leia, David spent nearly a decade at HP Labs working on quantum computing and nanophotonics. His research there led to the invention of diffractive lightfield backlighting, a foundational technology for early immersive 3D displays and the basis of Leia’s first-generation products.
David holds a PhD in Physics from Stanford University and a BS from École Polytechnique. He is an inventor on over 200 patents, co-authored the textbook Single Photon Devices and Applications, and is a recipient of the French National Order of Merit. In 2024, he was named a finalist for the European Inventor Award for his contributions to immersive 3D display technology.
In-Person Seminar Location
Date: March 19th, 2026
Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
ITRI
2880 Zanker Rd. Suite 103
San Jose, CA 95134
The webinar will run in parallel with the in-person event.
A recording of the webinar will be made available to SID members on www.sid.org.
Join BASID for a Networking Event
Networking Event
Join BASID for networking after the seminar!
Time: 7:30pm to 9:00pm
Location: Giovanni’s New York Pizzeria, 1127 Lawrence Expy, Sunnyvale, CA 94089
Libo Weng
BA-SID Professional Person Spotlight – Libo Weng
Libo Weng is an optical test engineer with over 10 years experience in display, optics, and AR technologies. He currently works as a Display Test Engineer at Google, where he is responsible for ramping up display test production capacity for AR glasses.
Prior to Google, his experience includes a role as a Characterization Engineer at OMNIVISION Technologies, where he led product development for micro-display products like Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCOS) for AR headsets and automotive head-up displays. He holds five US patents and has published 11 technical papers.
He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from Kent State University. In addition to his professional work, he is passionate about creating community impact through non-profit organizations.